On November 11th, Hamas terrorists killed IDF Lieutenant-Colonel M in southern Gaza Strip during a covert Israeli operation, marking the first death of an Israeli officer since Operation Protection Edge in 2014. Starting the very next day, during a period of only 24 hours, terrorists in the Gaza Strip launched more than 460 rockets into Southern Israel, and approximately 100 of them were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. While the majority of rockets fell into open territory, others fell into Sderot, Ashkelon, and other Gaza border communities, resulting in the death of a 48-year-old Palestinian man, and more than 50 people injured. The IDF, in response, struck more than 160 terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including tunnels created by Hamas to use to infiltrate and carry out attacks in Israel, and four military compounds.

Thereafter, Israel agreed to an Egyptian mediated ceasefire with Hamas.

Why did Israel accept a “cease-fire,” rather than finish the job of taking out Hamas targets? How long can we expect the “cease-fire” to actually last? And does the recent flare-up in Gaza impact President Trump’s Middle East peace plan? Professor Inbar tackles these questions.